For those Germans who were not deemed “enemies,” life in the Third Reich appeared to offer new opportunities, including stable employment and access to leisure activities. This is one of the reasons why many Germans endorsed the regime and the ideal of the Volksgemeinschaft. Additionally, Germany also appeared to be returning to a position of power on the European continent. In sum, many Germans felt more secure about their future. In this photograph from 1935, a family enjoys a picnic: preparing a meal together outdoors, finding the time to relax. Yet underneath the veneer of contentment lay a harsher economic reality. By this time, real wages were stagnating, and the economy—already configured toward rearmament—offered only limited access to consumer goods. Nonetheless, many Germans found comfort and security in the belief that the Führer was fulfilling the promises he had made.